CEM: The Moments In Between

Coffee & Wine

Rayne's mood was soft and light standing next to Scott in the coffee line. She was awfully fidgety, waiting to be served. She looked at Scott with his messy blond hair and bright blue eyes. His hair was indeed quite messy. She sure hoped people didn't think she had anything to do with his bedhead. She was Avi's girl and though very few people outside of family and friends knew it, she preferred it that way; on both accounts. That didn't mean that she didn't love Scott. She did, that went without saying. To know Scott, was to love Scott. That was just the way it went. She was glad she knew him. But she was not in love with Scott and she certainly would have nothing to do with messing up his hair.

"I have no idea what to order." She said looking up to Scott for guidance. Coffee was not her thing. Scott looked at her and wondered for the dozenth time why she had chosen him to hang out with that day. Everyone was available, well almost everyone. Kevin took Avi out and about exploring, leaving Rayne with the rest of the band. It was a rarity for Avi and Rayne to be apart.

"Bro time, much needed Bro Time." Avi had said. So Rayne decided to hang out with Scott for a while.

She was simply a radiant person. He saw Avi's personality reflected in everything she said and did. It was there all mixed up in her own bright and sunny disposition. Sometimes, when they were together you couldn't tell them apart if they were talking except for the pitch and timber of their voices. Avi's voice was obviously male, a deep rich and smooth bass, while hers was distinctly female, soft and melodic. But the words they used and the subtle nuances of their speech, that was hard to separate. They hadn't been together that long had they? Well, it had been a long while.

He smiled boldly at Rayne. Every now and then he felt a burning attraction to the woman that had stolen his bass' heart so completely away, the woman that had given hers freely to Avi. Their love, was profound and amazing to him. Her eyes were so bright and full of life, green much like Avi's but still very different. He loved the moments where she'd let him get lost in them. There was no doubt that she knew exactly what he was feeling and she let him hold on to those feelings without shame or fear or repercussions for a few moments. They were few and far between, those moments, but he was grateful for everyone. If he could ever love a woman, just one for the rest of his days it would be Rayne. But, that was Avi's job and Avi was determined to do it. Scott knew where he was. Bro time his ass. But Avi's Bro time, gave him Rayne time and he would not complain about that.

She laughed happily. "I wonder how we order tea?" She turned and looked questioningly at Scott. His blue eyes shone at her in the morning light as he looked at her his eyes unabashedly filled with love. It wasn't the first time she'd caught that look from him, nor was it the first time she sensed those feelings. If Avi ever caught it he never said a thing, but Scott was always careful to only give her that lost little boy look when they were alone. She loved Scott, but she didn't love him that way. That love was reserved for Avi and Avi alone. She was certain that Scott didn't love her like that all the time, just every now and then.

***

Kevin led Avi through the city, trying to find the things that he had requested.

"Hey. Can we get some food? I'm hungry."

"When are you not hungry?" Kevin laughed heartily at Avi's wounded expression. Then Avi joined him. It had been way too long since they had hung out together just the two of them. "Anything in particular?" Avi just looked at him, his eyes wide and expectant.

"Are you my brother, or someone pretending to be him?" Avi leaned forward and looked up into Kevin's face. His eyes clearly expressed his amusement.

"I don't know, am I?" Kevin paused and looked at Avi as if he just asked him the stupidest question ever. "I know just the place." They moved together through the open markets. Kevin had forgotten just how much exuberance Avi had for life. Everything was new to him, even if he'd seen it a dozen times. He was like a five foot ten kid with a beard and a beanie. It was always, 'Can I touch this? Can I touch that and ooooh! What is that?' with him. Kevin loved it. They ate, they talked, they laughed and they joked. Yeah, it was good to be together again.